Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 482 Koi Little Lucky Star 11

The Yun family's ox cart stopped silently at the corner of the street.

Yun Zhong and his three children got out of the car in a secluded area across from the government office. There were no extra words, no other supporters, just a simple eye contact and a silent nod: "Go."

The three brothers, wearing old linen shirts that had been washed white and carrying patched old exam baskets, calmly blended into the crowd.

The examination basket contained an inkstone that had been worn out until it was smooth, an old but sharp brush, and some simple dry food prepared by the family.

Compared to their brand new equipment, their figures seemed somewhat dim.

Yet their movements were skillful and fluid.

Facing the dignified yamen runners and the strict search, Yunfeng calmly handed over the examination permit, his expression as serene as water;

Yunsen moved quickly and unpacked his bag without any delay;

Yunze is the youngest, but he seems extremely steady. He follows his brother closely, his eyes focused, and is not at all disturbed by the noise around him.

As they passed the examination, their old exam baskets silently told of countless nights spent hunched over desks.

When they stepped into the heavy gate of the government office, their backs were straight, their steps were firm, and they had a long-accumulated tenacity and pure reverence for writing.

The dormitories were small and cramped, with only room for a table and a stool. The examinees took their seats, the door sealed, leaving only their pens and inkstones facing each other, the scent of ink filling the air, and the austere atmosphere growing even thicker.

As the test papers were distributed, silence fell in the examination room, with only the rustling sound of pens, the occasional suppressed cough and the sound of flipping papers.

At this moment, all external glitz and glamour fade away, and only the pen in the hand, the ink on the desk, and the words in the heart are the masters.

At first, Lin Mingxuan was able to maintain a calm demeanor, and he tried to be elegant when picking up the brush and dipping it in ink.

Lin Mingxuan was eager to show off his talent, so he wanted to be original from the very beginning. After writing a few sentences, he felt that something was wrong, so he dipped the brush in ink and revised it frequently. Many ink spots had already appeared on the edge of the exquisite inkstone.

The more anxious he was, the more restless and unstable his handwriting became.

Lin Mingcheng was stuck on a policy question. He scratched his head, looked around, but didn't dare to move too much.

Glancing at the people around him who were writing furiously, he became even more anxious. He subconsciously wanted to touch the koi lucky bag on his chest for comfort, but he only touched the thin lapel (no accessories were allowed). The action instead attracted the sharp gaze of the invigilator, who scared him so much that he quickly shrank his head.

Lin Minglu, Lin Minghong and others were able to answer basic questions on the meaning of the scriptures, but they became confused when faced with questions that required a deeper understanding or flexibility.

If one's daily studies aren't solid enough, one will only realize the difficulty when faced with a real test. The gilded inkstone patterns lost their brilliance in the dim light of the examination room.

Yunfeng unfolded the test paper but didn't rush to write. He took a deep breath, carefully examined the questions, recalled what he had learned, and sorted out his thoughts.

His grinding motions were steady and focused, the warm, old inkstone a reflection of his current state of mind. Only when he felt confident in his work did he dip his brush into the ink, achieving an even, rich, and composed strokes. His movements possessed a rhythmic quality, as natural and focused as planting rice in a field.

Yunsen kept in mind his grandfather's advice to write neatly, and did not seek speed but stability.

Every stroke was powerful enough to penetrate the paper, striving for clarity and precision. Even when faced with a difficult passage, he never panicked, calmly sorting out the key points before slowly answering. An old brush seemed more docile in his hands than a new one.

Although Yunze is young, he shows calmness and carefulness far beyond his age.

He paid particular attention to the questions, fearing he would miss any requirement. When faced with familiar questions, he remained calm and made sure to answer them correctly and completely. When faced with unfamiliar content, he would draw on what he had read and learned to interpret and apply it to his best advantage.

He didn't have a koi, but he had the emulation of his brother and a reverence for words. The old water bag around his waist swayed slightly, like a quiet secret.

The stuffiness in the examination room, the occasional cough or sigh from other examinees, and the faint sounds of scratching and hurriedly flipping papers coming from the Lin family seemed to be isolated from the world of concentration of the three Yun brothers.

What flows beneath their pens is the real accumulation that has been buried in the soil, immersed in oil lamps, and dissolved in sweat over the years.

When the last question was answered, Yunfeng carefully blew dry the ink, Yunsen gently put down the pen, and Yunze carefully checked for omissions. The three of them breathed a sigh of relief silently, with no complacency on their faces, only a calmness of "trying their best" and calmness about the result.

When the doors of the examination hall reopened, the candidates poured out as if they had experienced a fierce battle.

The Lin family rushed forward. Lin Mingxuan looked exhausted and frustrated. His previous high spirits were gone, and his new clothes seemed to have lost their luster.

Lin Mingcheng came out with almost a sad face.

Lin Minglu and the others were all dejected, their steps unsteady. Faced with their families' inquiries, they looked away and stammered. Mrs. Song's raised voice gradually faded in the face of the children's gloomy faces.

When Yunfeng, Yunsen and Yunze walked out, although they looked tired from the exam, their eyes were clear and their steps were steady.

Facing Yun Zhong's concerned gaze, Yun Feng shook his head slightly, then nodded.

Shaking your head means that the test was difficult, while nodding means that you have tried your best.

There is no ecstasy, nor great sorrow. That calmness comes from inner confidence.

Yunze took out the water bag and took a few big gulps. Then he wiped his mouth and smiled at his brothers, as if he had accomplished something important that had to be done.

The examination hall is ruthless and ink marks are left behind.

The Lin family's carefully prepared shiny door lintels, koi lucky bags and noisy prayers seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the cold and hard examination room and the equally cold test papers.

Those whose foundations have been softened by false fame and indulgence will eventually be unable to withstand the weight of fame and fortune.

The roots that the Yun family cultivated silently and watered with sweat on the ridges of the fields, under the oil lamps, behind the rice shops, and beside the streams have, regardless of whether they can eventually produce flowers that rank among the best, already laid a deep foundation in the hard soil that is enough for them to stand firm in life.

The true fragrance of ink never comes from praying in the smoke. It only exists in the tranquility of each stroke and the accumulation of a day and a night.

A few days later, the place where the results were announced outside the government office was bustling with people.

The wall where the yellow notice was posted was already packed with people.

The officers held up their water and fire sticks, trying to maintain order, but the crowd was filled with expectant sobs, lost sighs, and sudden bursts of ecstasy.

The three Yun brothers, accompanied by Yun Zhong, stood quietly in the corner.

Yunfeng stood tall and straight, his eyes calm as water; Yunsen focused his mind slightly and looked in the direction of the list; although Yunze was young, he was as calm as a rock, and only clenched his palms slightly.

The yellow list slowly unfolded, the ink gleaming with a solemn sheen in the sunlight. Yunfeng, Yunsen, and Yunze were prominently listed, all ranked in the middle of the pack. There were no cheers, no clamor. The three simply exchanged glances, revealing a subtle hint of relief.

Yunfeng whispered to Yunzhong, "Grandpa is right, but I just want to make sure I don't feel guilty about my hard work." For them, this result was the fruit of a solid foundation of hard work in the fields day after day and diligent study under the lamplight at night.

It's not luck, but the calmness gained from being down-to-earth.